Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-12
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE LAST OF THE BUFFALO.
Specimens Secured. by the Smithsonian
Hunting Party.

ONLY TWO HUNDRED BUFFALO SAID To BE LEFT
EVEN TIE BONES DISAPPEARING FROM THE PI ,ISs-
Trophies or TIE CHASE SECURED BY Mp Hopy
AD.y.
On the floor OF large room in a bic wooden
building adjoining the National Museum buflainer
are stretched out the furry hides OF two DOZEN
buffalo. In corners Of the room are boyes and
bundles OF bones and here and there are bleached
nson sAuiis, picked up on the plains. These are
the trophies brought home by Mr.. William T..
Hor1aday, the naturalist and taxiderualst who
went recently on an expedition for the smith,
sonian lnstitutiontO secure specimens OF the Amer
lean Diiii1iO, before the species became extinct
Nillions OF e1felo once rOaTned the plains and In
tne days OF Daniel Boone were found in West Viz
glnla, southeastern Pennsylvania and her places
ABOUT tAr Appalachian range: but tO-dIy the buff
1alo mas become so IN amin that Prof Baird
utileu III desirable. in the interest OF science to
Send ouI Speciti expedition 70 secure specimens
MI HOrnaday, who has followed the chase In the
interest OF science ia African forests in he monkey
nduhted Wop!S oil BOrneO and the jungieS OF India,
was naturally chosen for the WORK. He made Miles
City, Mon, the base Of his operations, and with
welI-equipped party OF cowboys went ON a hunting
expedition which resulted in his securing within
Two months over twenty-five buffalo, beside speci-
liens Oh antelope, deer, wolves, badgers, porcu-
pines, sage COCKS and grouse
ONLY TWO HUNDRED LEFT.
Only few years ago buffalo were so numerous
that trains on the trans-cOntinentaI railroads had
often to stop while large herds crossed the tracks
Now, Mr.. HOrnaday figures that there are but two
hundred IN the country outside OF the small herd
lowstone Park and are there protected by law
from the hunters rife. Where Mr.. Hornaday
buffalo left but they will all be killed next spring
or the following spring when the COWBOYS make
their annual roundup" The terrible work OF
destruction following upon the completion OF the
Railroads has been done by hunters who killed
o for lOr theft sport a men and who 2nes shot s 99
were In large herds, used 70 be able TO take
'stand" near heard and shoot them by the hum
dreu, ami cowboys that never see buffalo with
out smoothing In the buffalo that We're killed by
MI HOrn3ddy in several Instances bullet marks,
enclsfed bullets or bones shattered by rtie balls,
were found. showing how closely ana relcntlessly
TINS last remnant or great family had been pur-
sued The plains were few years ago whitened
with the bleaching bones Of the slaughtered ami
mails, but even these traces OF the buffalo are be-
Ing rapidly removed. The bones arr gathered up
and shipped 10 The cities TO be ground up and used
as Fertilizers. There are about hundred buffalo
left In the panhandle OF Texas The specimens
brought from Montana by MIR. HOrnaday, some OF
which VIII be mounted Tor The National Museum,
comprise efEht Old bulls. eleven young bulls, six
Old COWS, i've young cows two yearIingS and one
three months Old CALI
THE BCFPALo CALF.
The calf which was secured on Mr.. Hornaday's
visit 10 Montana last Spring, and was brought
here alive, but soon died from q collie contracted
by eating damp clover. The animal has been
mounted. and stands as sentry in front of
the taXidermists' work room in the old arIaorv
building. Last spring Mr.. HOrnaday shot also
three or four bu1alo, but they were then shedding
their coats, and the skins are considered useless
Tor the taXlderniSt'S purposes. Mr.. HOrnaday
brought with him also sixteen complete buffalo
skeletons. besides hIty-One skulls, picked up on
The prairie y sufficient number OF these speci-
lneuS 10 give lair representation or the buffalo,
from the naturalists' standpoint. viii be prepared
Tor exhibition in the National museum, and the
REMAINDER Will De Kept, 10 exchange with other
Institutions.
A CHANCE TO SKETCH.
One huge skin Mt. Hornaday points to with spe-
cial pride II is that of huge bull that stood five
feet eight inches nigh. Mr. fiorniday gave chase
10 the bull on horseback and brought him TO bay.
The bull turned TO charge. but IA shot crippled
him, so that he Jumbled To the ground. The bun
reguned his feet and stood inoti0nleSS. Mr.. Horn
aday leaped from his horse and made rapid
sketches OF the fine animal as he stood. such an
opportunity OF Shetchlng 4 buffalo in life could
not be neglected. So by rapid work he secured
considerable material To aid him in his work as a
taxidern,Ist before he gave the animal his death
shot.